Policies

This statement discusses the role of light rail for Perth among other suitable options, and was developed by David Rice and the STC Committee. This second version incorporates comments from interested parties and has been simplified from the original one.

This is a rating system: to show whether an action is truly sustainable (5 star), if it is nearly sustainable (4 star), or if it warrants less stars – dropping to grossly unsustainable (less than 1 star). This is a new system developed by David Rice and was agreed to by the STC Committee.

Oil is a non-renewable resource and is being rapidly depleted by Australia’s, and the world’s, profligate use of the remaining reserves. Rises of the price of oil in 2008 to over US$140 per barrel indicated that we face serious problems in a community that has come to rely on ‘cheap oil’. The proposals in this Policy will help us develop a Plan B to address ‘peak oil’.

STC’s Bicycle Policy aims for an environment where cycling is safe and convenient, respected, supported and encouraged by all areas of government and the community. The Policy identifies impediments to achieving increased bicycle trips, and changes required for greater substitution of motor vehicle trips with bicycle trips for short-medium urban journeys.

Walking is our most important form of transport and is part of all journeys we make. Walking needs greater priority in urban planning and transport. It is a sustainable transport and recreational activity and increasing the amount that we walk has many benefits for the community, environment and individuals.

Review of the Liquid Fuel Emergency Act Submission (2004)

Submission (Doc-520kb) to enquiry organised by ACTIL Tasman. STC also made a verbal submission on 27 September, in particular on impact of the coming oil rollover issues.

Beyond Oil Conference – February 2003

STC organised (in conjunction with AIAST) an exciting conference titled “Beyond Oil” in Perth on 21 February 2003. Information about this conference, including background papers, can be found on this site.

Energy Quality and Economic Effectiveness (2003)

Brian Fleay – February 2003

It is a truism that energy drives everything in this world. Nothing happens, nothing is created, without the irreversible dissipation of high grade energy into degraded and unusable forms. However, there is no loss of energy involved. During its use it is just dissipated as waste heat into the environment. This is the essence of the first and second laws of thermodynamics, the most economic of all the physical laws.

This paper (PDF- 155kb) summarises a few of the key conclusions reached on subjects such as:

the relationship between energy consumption and gross domestic product (GDP);

the consequences of historical changes in fuel type on this relationship;

the net energy yield of various fuels and some of the factors that influence this, with a focus on transport;

comparisons between petroleum-based fuels and alternatives to these for transport; and

the implications for Australia when assessing the strategic futures for transport fuels.

Australia’s Oil Vulnerability

Bruce Robinson – 30th June 2002

Australia has been shielded from past oil shocks by our domestic oil production from Bass Strait. However, Bass Strait production has been declining since 1985 and until now other fields have filled the production gap. Reliable recent predictions by GeoScience Australia (previously the Australian Geological Survey Organisation) and Woodside indicate that Australia’s oil and condensate production will fall substantially in the next decade.